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Akaka Falls State Park is a latter-day Eden of bamboo forests and waterfalls, including the 400-ft/124-m drop of its namesake Akaka Falls. The park is a 5-mi/8-km drive inland from the highway that passes through the small town of Honomu, along the n...
Categories: Akaka Falls State Park
The town of Captain Cook is located in the southern portion of the Kona coast where the best Hawaiian coffee, Kona, is produced. You can find out about growing and processing coffee at the Kuaiwi Farm. Samples—as well as a gift shop—are available the...
Categories: Captain Cook
From North Hilo to Waipio Valley, the Hamakua coast offers splendid ocean views—take the road below the one marked "scenic point" to see Laupahoehoe Point without the houses blocking your view. This area receives 84 in/213 cm of rainfall a year, and ...
Categories: Hamakua Coast
Categories: Hapuna Beach
Home to the world's tallest mountain and the world's most active volcano, Hawaii is an island of extremes and superlatives. Where else can you go skiing on a mountain top in the morning and snorkel in a tropical sea in the afternoon? The so...
Categories: Hawaii
Hawi is the northernmost town on the Big Island, 50 mi/80 km north of Kailua-Kona, located near the Kohala Mountains and Kapa'au, another small community. The area around Hawi is rich in Hawaiian history, and there are two attractions considered must...
Categories: Hawi
You'll experience the Big Island's contrasts for yourself in the lush tropical port of Hilo. Hilo has an annual rainfall of more than 100", earning it the title of America's Wettest City. The result is some of the most spectacular flower gardens, w...
Categories: Hilo
Located on the upland slopes, Holualoa is a well-kept town of resident artists and shops in the heart of Kona coffee country, 5 mi/8 km southeast of Kailua-Kona. Spend some time exploring the many art specialty shops, galleries and studios. Look for ...
Categories: Holualoa
Categories: Honomalino Bay
A former U.S. Navy bombing target, Kahoolawe Island has since been returned to the state of Hawaii, to be held in trust for the Hawaiian nation. Despite a major cleanup area, much of the island remains unusable because of unexploded ordnance. A cultu...
Categories: Kahoolawe Island
This famous area of the Big Island is on the western side along the coast North Kona and South Kona. Kailua-Kona is the name of the main town along the coast, with Kona added to distinguish it from other Kailuas. This tourist-oriented seaside village...
Categories: Kailua-Kona
In Kainaliu, 9 mi/15 km southeast of Kailua-Kona, stop for a meal at Rebel Kitchen and browse through the neighboring stores. A number of gift and specialty shops on the busy main street are worth checking out, including old-time Oshima's drug store ...
Categories: Kainaliu
If there's time, take a look at the Kau Desert, located 50 mi/80 km southwest of Hilo. Highway 11 crosses through the edges of the Kau Desert between Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park and the small town of Pahala. Not technically a desert—the average ...
Categories: Kau Desert
Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kaua`i is a beautiful oasis of lush tropical forest and white sand beaches. Its the fourth largest Hawaiian island, its circular shape comprising about 552 square miles. Although the island itself is fairly mountainous, abo...
Categories: Hawaii
Categories: Kawaihae
Near Napoopoo, just south of Captain Cook, is Kealakekua Bay, where Cook's ships made their unwise anchorage in 1779. You can see a tall white marble obelisk that commemorates the bay as the place where the explorer was killed. The monument, at the f...
Categories: Kealakekua Bay
The bay of the city was shaped from the ancient Hawaiian legend of King Kamehameha III born into the waters of the natural springs. The area served as a playground for Hawaiian royalty however it was also a battlefield that unified the Hawaiian islan...
Categories: Keauhou
The fabled Kohala coast extends north for about 15 mi/24 km until just past the small town and harbor of Kawaihae. The Kohala coast is home to some of Hawaii's most magnificent luxury resorts. The Hilton Waikoloa Village is among the lavish propertie...
Categories: Kohala
For nearly 70 years, Lanai dubbed the "Pineapple Island," was operated as a pineapple plantation by Dole Company.
Today there are two exclusive, world-class hotels, the Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel. In addition, the Experience at K...
Categories: Lanai
Devastated by a tsunami in 1946, this town is now home to a lovely oceanfront park as well as the Train Museum. The museum documents the century-long era when sugar production came to dominate the economy of Hilo and Hawaii's Hamakua Coast.
Categories: Laupahoehoe
The island of Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands with a population of just over 117,000. Maui has a thriving tourism industry and is one of the most popular islands to visit, featuring alluring attractions like the massive Haleakala v...
Categories: Hawaii
At a breathtaking 14,000 ft/4,265 m (with an azure sea sparkling below), Mauna Kea is one of the best spots on Earth to explore the heavens: The Mauna Kea observatory complex has 13 major astronomical telescopes. Free stargazing programs are presente...
Categories: Mauna Kea
The fifth largest and least developed of the Hawaiian Islands, Molokai is only 20 minutes by air from Hawaii's most populous islands, Maui and Oahu.
Molokai's population, numbering less than 7,000, includes the highest percentage of people of nativ...
Categories: Molokai
Although the Hawaiian island of Molokai is tiny (it covers only about 260 square miles), it boasts a wealth of attractive features, including beautiful beaches, lush forests, tons of local culture and history and, of course, that quintessential laid-...
Categories: Hawaii
Mt. Kilauea is one of the most stunning and active volcanoes in the world. The eruption of Kilauea began in 983 and has remained active allowing spectators an close look at its grandeur. As you cruise alongside, you will see stunning lava flows ...
Categories: Mt. Kilauea (Cruising)
Nicknamed "the Forbidden Island," Niihau is largely off-limits to Hawaii's visitors; it is owned by the Robinson family, who purchased it from King Kamehameha IV in 1863. The island is home to about 200 native Hawaiians who live a very traditional li...
Categories: Niihau Island
Oahu is "The Gathering Place." It has more hotels, more restaurants, and more major attractions than all of the other islands put together. Our major city, Honolulu, is here. So is the "World's Best Beach" at Waikiki.
Honolulu is sophisticated, liv...
Categories: Oahu
The island of Oahu offers travelers experiences that energize the spirit, enrich the mind, blossom romance, honor its iconic history, and celebrate its vibrant mix of Hawaiian and multicultural traditions!
Categories: Hawaii
This is the easternmost point of the Big Island. You can get there by driving south out of Hilo, but first make a stop at Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens (off Highway 11—look for the signs). There, you can take a short drive into the rain forest, w...
Categories: Puna Coast
The 12th-century Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park is also known as the "Place of Refuge." This was once a sanctuary where those who broke Polynesian taboos could receive ritual purification. This was critical, because if their misdeeds were...
Categories: Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park
Built by Kamehameha I in 1791, this temple on the northwest Kohala coast is still a sacred shrine for many Hawaiians. A prophet advised Kamehameha the Great that if he were to construct the temple, the warrior-king's conquest of all the Hawaiian Isla...
Categories: Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Categories: South Kohala
Twice as large as all of the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, the The Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is also the youngest of the island chain. At some 800,000 years of age, it's also still growing. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park cont...
Categories: The Island of Hawaii
Near Kilauea is the quiet, relaxing village of Volcano where accommodations—several bed-and-breakfast inns and lodges—are available. The town gets about 100 in/250 cm of rain each year, but the showers seldom last long. Volcano is not on the coast an...
Categories: Volcano HI
The impressive Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with two active volcanoes (Mauna Loa and Kilauea), requires at least a half-day visit, and a full day (or even two) is better. Of the two volcanoes, Kilauea is much more accessible and is more active—it'...
Categories: Volcanoes National Park
Categories: Waikoloa
This town near the northern end of the Big Island, 55 mi/90 km northwest of Hilo, goes by two names: Waimea and Kamuela. The town uses the name Kamuela for its postal address to avoid confusion with another town, also called Waimea, on Kauai Island. ...
Categories: Waimea
The Waipio Valley is a stunning area on the northeast coast that was considered a holy place by Polynesians. Legend has it that there is an entrance to the underworld in the area. The steep road into the valley requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle, bu...
Categories: Waipio Valley
Home to the world's tallest mountain and the world's most active volcano, Hawaii is an island of extremes and superlatives. Where else can you go skiing on a mountain top in the morning and snorkel in a tropical sea in the afternoon? The so...
Categories: Hawaii
Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kaua`i is a beautiful oasis of lush tropical forest and white sand beaches. Its the fourth largest Hawaiian island, its circular shape comprising about 552 square miles. Although the island itself is fairly mountainous, abo...
Categories: Hawaii
Lanai is one of the smaller and more deserted islands within the Hawaiian archipelago. With only a little over 3,000 people who call the island home, Lanai is certainly not similar to the bustling cities of some of the more populous Hawaiian islands,...
Categories: Hawaii
The island of Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands with a population of just over 117,000. Maui has a thriving tourism industry and is one of the most popular islands to visit, featuring alluring attractions like the massive Haleakala v...
Categories: Hawaii
Although the Hawaiian island of Molokai is tiny (it covers only about 260 square miles), it boasts a wealth of attractive features, including beautiful beaches, lush forests, tons of local culture and history and, of course, that quintessential laid-...
Categories: Hawaii
The island of Oahu offers travelers experiences that energize the spirit, enrich the mind, blossom romance, honor its iconic history, and celebrate its vibrant mix of Hawaiian and multicultural traditions!
Categories: Hawaii
